Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-26

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

The graph below shows the average monthly change in the prices of three metals during 2014.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Average monthly change in prices of copper, nickel and zinc (2014)

Student answer (Band 6.0)

The graph illustrates average monthly changes in prices of copper, nickel and zinc in the year 2014.

It is evident from the graph that initially the price of nickel was the highest at around 6% change in price compared with previous month. With time, the change in price of nickel dropped significantly from 6% to -3% by the month of June. It rose with time, but the rise was not very significant as it only rose till 1% within a span of 6 months. Furthermore, initially the change in price of zinc was the least but within a span of 1 year it saw slight growth of 1%.

It is evident from the garph that although nickel had the highest percentage of change in price, it saw the highest drop in its value. On the other hand, zinc had the lowest change in price at the very beginning but with time it underwent a drastic increase in change in its price.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the metals and the broad contrast that nickel began highest and later fell, while zinc rose towards the end. However, the response only partially reports the graph’s main features. It gives detail about nickel’s fall to −3% in June and recovery to 1%, but omits copper’s comparatively stable pattern and the shared mid-year decline and late-year recovery. The claim that zinc began with the lowest change is inaccurate: copper was at about 2%, zinc at 1%, and nickel at 6%. Likewise, zinc’s increase was not consistently “drastic”; it fluctuated and ended at about 2%. A clearer overview and more accurate comparisons across all three metals would make the summary more complete and better supported.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, a paragraph describing trends, and a concluding comparison. Linking expressions such as “Furthermore” and “On the other hand” help signal relationships between points. However, progression is limited because the final paragraph largely repeats the earlier contrast between nickel and zinc rather than adding a distinct overview. The repeated opening “It is evident from the graph” also makes the organisation feel formulaic, and the discussion moves between metals without a clear system for comparing them. Grouping the information into an overview followed by a chronological account, or comparing the metals’ early and late movements, would create clearer progression and more effective cohesion.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of task-related vocabulary, including “dropped significantly,” “rose,” “highest,” and “change in price,” and the meaning is generally clear. There are also attempts at more descriptive language, such as “underwent a drastic increase,” although this overstates zinc’s actual movement and is not a precise description. Repetition of “change in price” and “with time” limits flexibility, while “garph” is a spelling error. Aim for more precise terms for graph trends and vary the language used to describe movement, while ensuring that stronger adjectives match the data. For example, zinc’s late rise is better described as a recovery or moderate increase than as drastic.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

You show a useful mix of simple and complex sentence forms, and most sentences communicate their meaning clearly. The opening sentence is accurate and straightforward, while clauses introduced by “although” and “but” show some range. There are some grammatical and punctuation issues, but they rarely obstruct understanding. In “the change in price of nickel dropped,” the subject is awkwardly framed: it is the percentage change that fell, rather than the price itself. The sentence beginning “It rose with time” also leaves the reference of “It” unclear. Use explicit subjects such as “the monthly percentage change for nickel,” and check spacing and punctuation, including the extra space before “6%.” More varied, precisely controlled comparisons would strengthen the range further.

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